Record farm closures have stoked "heartbreak" across Suffolk as farmers say they are struggling to make ends meet amid claims of "punitive" government policy.
A total of 6,365 agriculture, forestry and fishing businesses have shut down nationally over the past year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the highest since quarterly data was first published in 2017 and a net loss of 3,175 farms.
MP for South Suffolk for South Suffolk, James Cartlidge, says he is concerned with "mounting pressures" on farmers including rising costs and inheritance tax changes.
He said: “These figures are heartbreaking – they confirm a farming industry in existential crisis.
"To have farms closing at the fastest pace on record shows that the fears of all of us opposed to the Family Farm Tax are coming true.
"Farming is not simply a job, it’s a way of life that guarantees the husbandry of our countryside and our all-important food security.
"Increases to National Insurance, the family farm tax, and last-minute changes to farmers’ support schemes, threaten this."
Andy Clements, who met the MP in July to discuss the impact of the recent weather on sugar beet said he felt "lucky" farming is only a small part of his business.
He also noted the impact global warming and adverse weather in recent years had caused lower yield to his crop.
Meanwhile, Richard Duchesne, 59, who runs nearby Stanningfield Hall Farm, near Bradfield Combust, said the removal of subsidies and increasingly low crop prices is currently more pressure on his business then the fear of inheritance tax.
He said: "We've got far more immediate problems with the actual economics of agriculture at the minute then income tax.
"We are really struggling to make ends meet, as the price is as low as it's been for several years and we are competing against really cost effective imports.
"It's a problem, because, we need food production, everybody needs feeding.
"But I think we're going to see a lot of farms go under in the next two, three years.
"Particularly small farms which can't spread the costs."
He noted that inheritance tax was the long term issue that could put many farms out of business, as their owners will not be able to save the funds to keep their business alive in this current climate.
This comes amid a series of protests in Suffolk in the last year, including a series of slow tractor convoys along the A14 in December and February.
MP James Cartlidge added: "These statistics show the stark reality that farmers are being forced to close their businesses, many of which have been in their families for generations.
"I’ll continue campaigning against these punitive taxes and pushing the Government to finally start listening to rural communities.”
NFU Suffolk Chairman, Glenn Buckingham, who farms near Stowmarket, added : “We are working to make sure all MPs understand the unintended consequences of the family farm tax, what the human impact is and how they can mitigate against it so they do not catch a whole generation of farmers in the eye of the storm.
“The family farm tax will not meet government’s own intentions – this has been show repeatedly and even the Office for Budget Responsibility suggests it’s ‘highly uncertain’ to raise the revenue Treasury claims.
“Despite this government has refused to publish the financial analysis behind its decision, even after multiple Freedom of Information requests.
“The changes to policy will impact 75% of farm businesses, forcing elderly farmers into heartbreaking situations.
“The NFU and others have suggested a ‘clawback’ that offers a solution which would still allow the Treasury to raise the revenue it needs.”
Published by the East Anglian Daily Times.
